Royal Revelry: King Charles and Queen Camilla Gracefully Host Easter Festivities at Windsor Castle
King Charles and Queen Camilla are continuing a cherished royal family holiday tradition this Easter.
The couple joined the family at the Easter Mattins service at St. George’s Chapel, located in Windsor Castle, on April 20. Also in attendance were all three of the King’s siblings: Princess Anne with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and Prince Edward with his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
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Andrew’s daughters attended with their husbands—Princess Beatrice with Edoardo Mapelli Mozz and Princess Eugenie with Jack Brooksbank—along with Edward’s son, James, Earl of Wessex.
Also present were the two children of Princess Margaret: the Earl of Snowdon and Lady Sarah, accompanied by Sarah’s husband, David Chatto.
Prince William and Kate Middleton chose not to attend the service this year. Instead, they spent the holiday over 100 miles away in Norfolk, at their country home, along with their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The 14th-century chapel is the traditional gathering place for the royals on Easter. It is where many former British monarchs are buried, including King Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, who passed away in September 2022. The chapel has also hosted several royal weddings, such as those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, share a special connection to the chapel, as it is where their marriage was blessed in 2005. The couple recently celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 9 during a state visit to Italy.
Last year, despite a recent diagnosis of cancer, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Easter service. Following medical advice, they sat apart from other attendees during the service to reduce the risk of infection and missed the private family lunch that followed.
During a surprise walkabout, in which they greeted members of the public gathered outside the church, King Charles responded to a well-wisher’s “get well soon” with, “I’m doing my best!”
The British monarch is still undergoing cancer treatment and was briefly hospitalized on March 27 due to “temporary side effects.” Although he canceled scheduled events in Birmingham the following day, he returned to his duties last week during a four-day state visit to Italy with his wife.
King Charles and Queen Camilla began their Easter celebrations on Thursday, April 17, by participating in the Royal Maundy Service, where they distributed “Maundy Money” in a tradition that dates back to 600 A.D.
The special coins honor those over the age of 70 for their outstanding Christian service to their communities, with the number of recipients corresponding to the age of the monarch. This year, 76 men and 76 women received the coins as a token of appreciation for their contributions to the community.
